Friday, August 11, 2017

Tropical system may form along southeastern US coast to end the week

August 11,2017, 2:38:22PM,EDT

A batch of thunderstorms along the east coast of Florida has the
potential to develop into a tropical system and unleash heavy rainfall
and raise seas to end the week.
"Thunderstorms between
northeastern Florida and northern Bahamas have developed a circular
motion," according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.

"It is possible this feature develops tropical characteristics with little notice," Kottlowski said.
The close proximity to the coast adds to the level of concern but may cap development.
People
from the eastern part of the Florida Peninsula to the Carolinas and
northern Bahamas should monitor this recent development as the feature
could evolve into a tropical depression or storm with little notice.
This
feature was the same system that produced torrential rainfall and flash
flooding on the British and United States Virgin Islands on Monday
night.
At the very least, this system will enhance rainfall as it
drifts northward and interacts with existing showers and thunderstorms
over coastal areas of the southeastern United States into this weekend,
Kottlowski stated.
The feature could increase the risk of flooding
and produce locally gusty thunderstorms along the southern Atlantic
Seaboard into Saturday.
Some communities as far away as the Florida west coast may be hit with heavier-than-average thunderstorms.RELATED:AccuWeather Hurricane CenterRepeated downpours may inundate southern US with 10 to 20 inches of rain over next few weeksUS East Coast may experience close encounter with tropical system early next week
"The budding system is likely to move
in a curved path around the western edge of an area of high pressure
over the central Atlantic ocean," Kottlowski said. "Part of the
circulation of the system will be over land."
Bathers and boaters
from eastern Florida to the Carolinas should be alert for rapidly
changing seas and surf. The pattern is conducive for the formation of
waterspouts and brief tornadoes.
Another system of interest, dubbed 99L, may behave in a similar manner in part of the same general area during early next week.